Traveling virtual pet game system

• US 8,425,289 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Beggs, Damon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ditoro, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/565,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20110070935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/30, 463/31, 463/34, 463/42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi

Abstract

A traveling virtual pet game simulates a pet traveling between various geographic locations. As the pet travels, users interact with the virtual pet to aid the pet in acquiring traits associated with the geographic regions in which it travels and to observe traits that the pet has previously acquired.

Claims

1. A method of operation of a traveling virtual pet game, comprising:

receiving virtual pet information via a data network from a first user-operated game device, the received virtual pet information associated with control of a virtual pet by the first user-operated game device;

first processing the virtual pet information including processing first geographic trait information associated with the pet, the first geographic trait information relating to a first geographic region associated with use of the first user-operated game device, the first geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the first geographic region, the first processing the virtual pet information further comprising a coordinator system;

storing an indication of the first geographic region in a coordinator data storage system;

storing pet attribute information in the coordinator data storage system, the pet attribute information identifying the virtual pet and indicating physical attributes of the virtual pet, the physical attributes including an appearance of the virtual pet;

storing the first geographic trait information in the coordinator data storage system, wherein storing the first geographic trait information in the coordinator data storage system occurs in response to receiving first virtual pet information from the first user-operated game device indicating a simulation of the virtual pet participating in an activity in the first geographic region;

forming an association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region; and

storing an indication of the association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region in the coordinator data storage system;

second processing the virtual pet information including processing second geographic trait information associated with the pet, the second geographic trait information relating to a second geographic region associated with use of a second user-operated game device, the second geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the second geographic region, the second processing the virtual pet information further comprises the coordinator system, following first processing the virtual pet information;

storing an indication of the second geographic region in the coordinator data storage system;

storing the second geographic trait information in the coordinator data storage system;

forming an association among the second geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the second geographic region; and

storing an indication of the association among the second geographic trait information and the pet attribute information in the coordinator data storage system; and

transmitting the second-processed virtual pet information via the data network to the second-user operated game device.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the simulation of the virtual pet participating in an activity in the first geographic region comprises a simulation of at least one of:

shopping for an item associated with the first geographic region;

receiving a gift of an item associated with the first geographic region;

grooming in a style associated with the first geographic region; and

learning to speak a phrase in a language associated with the first geographic location.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein learning speak a phrase in a language associated with the first geographic region comprises the coordinator system transmitting information via the data network to a first user-operated game device enabling the first user-operated game device to audibly output the phrase.

4. A method of operation of a traveling virtual pet game, comprising:

receiving virtual pet information via a data network from a first user-operated game device, the received virtual pet information associated with control of a virtual pet by the first user-operated game device;

first processing the virtual pet information including processing first geographic trait information associated with the pet, the first geographic trait information relating to a first geographic region associated with use of the first user-operated game device, the first geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the first geographic region, the first processing the virtual pet information further comprising a coordinator system;

storing an indication of the first geographic region in a coordinator data storage system;

storing pet attribute information in the coordinator data storage system, the pet attribute information identifying the virtual pet and indicating physical attributes of the virtual pet, the physical attributes including an appearance of the virtual pet;

storing the first geographic trait information in the coordinator data storage system;

forming an association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region; and

storing an indication of the association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region in the coordinator data storage system;

second processing the virtual pet information including processing second geographic trait information associated with the pet, the second geographic trait information relating to a second geographic region associated with use of a second user-operated game device, the second geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the second geographic region, the second processing the virtual pet information further comprises the coordinator system, following first processing the virtual pet information;

storing an indication of the second geographic region in the coordinator data storage system;

storing the second geographic trait information in the coordinator data storage system, wherein storing the second geographic trait information in the coordinator data storage system occurs in response to the coordinator system receiving virtual pet information from the first user-operated game device indicating a simulation of the virtual pet traveling

forming an association among the second geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the second geographic region; and

storing an indication of the association among the second geographic trait information and the pet attribute information in the coordinator data storage system; and

transmitting the second-processed virtual pet information via the data network to the second-user operated game device.

5. A method of operation of a traveling virtual pet game, comprising:

receiving virtual pet information via a data network from a first user-operated game device, the received virtual pet information associated with control of a virtual pet by the first user-operated game device, wherein receiving virtual pet information via the data network from the first user-operated game device comprises a coordinator data storage system receiving virtual pet information indicating a simulation of the virtual pet traveling;

first processing the virtual pet information including processing first geographic trait information associated with the pet, the first geographic trait information relating to a first geographic region associated with use of the first user-operated game device, the first geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the first geographic region, the first processing the virtual pet information further comprising a coordinator system;

storing an indication of the first geographic region in a coordinator data storage system;

storing pet attribute information in the coordinator data storage system, the pet attribute information identifying the virtual pet and indicating physical attributes of the virtual pet, the physical attributes including an appearance of the virtual pet;

storing the first geographic trait information in the coordinator data storage system;

forming an association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region;

storing an indication of the association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region in the coordinator data storage system; and

in response to the coordinator system receiving virtual pet information indicating a simulation of the virtual pet traveling, the coordinator system de-associating the virtual pet information from control of the virtual pet via the first user-operated game device and de-associating the first geographic region from the pet attribute information;

second processing the virtual pet information including processing second geographic trait information associated with the pet, the second geographic trait information relating to a second geographic region associated with use of a second user-operated game device, the second geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the second geographic region, the second processing the virtual pet information further comprises the coordinator system, following first processing the virtual pet information;

storing an indication of the second geographic region in the coordinator data storage system;

storing the second geographic trait information in the coordinator data storage system;

forming an association among the second geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the second geographic region;

storing an indication of the association among the second geographic trait information and the pet attribute information in the coordinator data storage system; and

in response to the coordinator system receiving the virtual pet information indicating a simulation of the virtual pet traveling, the coordinator system associating the virtual pet information with control of the virtual pet via the second user-operated game device and associating the second geographic region with the pet attribute information; and

transmitting the second-processed virtual pet information via the data network to the second-user operated game device.

6. The method claimed in claim 5, further comprising the coordinator system storing journal information in the coordinator data storage system, the journal information describing an aspect of a simulated experience of the virtual pet in a geographic region.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, further comprising the coordinator system:

receiving a journal request from a requesting user-operated game device;

retrieving from the coordinator data storage system stored journal information; and

transmitting retrieved journal information to the requesting user-operated game device.

8. The method claimed in claim 5, further comprising the coordinator system storing map information in the coordinator data storage system, the map including indications of geographic regions associated with pet attribute information stored in the coordinator data storage system.

9. The method claimed in claim 8, further comprising the coordinator system:

receiving a map request from a requesting user-operated game device;

retrieving from the coordinator data storage system stored map information; and

transmitting retrieved map information to the requesting user-operated game device.

10. A traveling virtual pet game system, comprising:

a coordinator system that includes;

a data communications interface for communicating data via a data network with one or more remote systems to provide data communication between the coordinator system and a first and second user-operated game devices that are remote from the coordinator system via the data network;

a data storage subsystem for storing virtual pet information;

a processor system, the processor system programmed or configured to provide;

data communication logic, the data communicating logic configured for receiving virtual pet information via the data network, the received virtual pet information associated with control of a virtual pet by a first user-operated game device;

first processing logic for processing the virtual pet information, the first processing logic including first geographic trait processing logic for processing first geographic trait information associated with the pet, the first geographic trait information relating to the first geographic region associated with use of the first user-operated game device, the first geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the first geographic region, the first processing logic further comprises first database logic, the first database logic storing in the data storage subsystem an indication of the first geographic region, pet attribute information, and the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information identifying the virtual pet and indicating physical attributes of the virtual pet, the physical attributes including an appearance of the virtual pet, the first database logic further forming an association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region, and storing an indication of the association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region in the data storage subsystem, wherein the first database logic stores the first geographic trait information in the data storage subsystem in response to the data communication logic receiving first virtual pet information from the first user-operated game device indicating a simulation of the virtual pet participating in an activity in the first geographic region; and

second processing logic for processing the virtual pet information, the second processing logic including second geographic trait processing logic for processing second geographic trait information associated with the pet, the second geographic trait information relating to a second geographic region associated with use of the second user-operated game device, the second geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the second geographic region, the second processing logic further comprises second database logic, the second database logic, following the first processing logic processing the virtual pet information, storing in the data storage subsystem an indication of the second geographic region and the second geographic trait information, the first database logic further forming an association among the second geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the second geographic region, and storing an indication of the association among the second geographic trait information and the pet attribute information in the data storage subsystem;

wherein the data communication logic is configured for transmitting the second-processed virtual pet information via the data network.

11. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein the simulation of the virtual pet participating in an activity in the first geographic region comprises a simulation of at least one of:

shopping for an item associated with the first geographic region;

receiving a gift of an item associated with the first geographic region; and

learning to speak a phrase in a language associated with the first geographic region.

12. The system claimed in claim 11, wherein learning to speak a phrase in a language associated with the first geographic region comprises the coordinator system transmitting information via the data network to a first user-operated game device enabling the first user-operated game device to audibly output the phrase.

13. A traveling virtual pet game system, comprising:

a coordinator system that includes;

a data communications interface for communicating data via a data network with one or more remote systems to provide data communication between the coordinator system and a first and second user-operated game devices that are remote from the coordinator system via the data network;

a data storage subsystem for storing virtual pet information;

a processor system, the processor system programmed or configured to provide;

data communication logic, the data communicating logic configured for receiving virtual pet information via the data network, the received virtual pet information associated with control of a virtual pet by a first user-operated game device;

first processing logic for processing the virtual pet information, the first processing logic including first geographic trait processing logic for processing first geographic trait information associated with the pet, the first geographic trait information relating to the first geographic region associated with use of the first user-operated game device, the first geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the first geographic region, the first processing logic further comprises first database logic, the first database logic storing in the data storage subsystem an indication of the first geographic region, pet attribute information, and the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information identifying the virtual pet and indicating physical attributes of the virtual pet, the physical attributes including an appearance of the virtual pet, the first database logic further forming an association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region, and storing an indication of the association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region in the data storage subsystem; and

second processing logic for processing the virtual pet information, the second processing logic including second geographic trait processing logic for processing second geographic trait information associated with the pet, the second geographic trait information relating to a second geographic region associated with use of the second user-operated game device, the second geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the second geographic region, the second processing logic further comprises second database logic, the second database logic, following the first processing logic processing the virtual pet information, storing in the data storage subsystem an indication of the second geographic region and the second geographic trait information, the first database logic further forming an association among the second geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the second geographic region, and storing an indication of the association among the second geographic trait information and the pet attribute information in the data storage subsystem;

wherein the data communication logic is configured for transmitting the second-processed virtual pet information via the data network,

and wherein the first database logic stores the second geographic trait information in the data storage subsystem in response to the data communication logic receiving virtual pet information from the first user-operated game device indicating a simulation of the virtual pet traveling.

14. A traveling virtual pet game system, comprising:

a coordinator system that includes;

a data communications interface for communicating data via a data network with one or more remote systems to provide data communication between the coordinator system and a first and second user-operated game devices that are remote from the coordinator system via the data network;

a data storage subsystem for storing virtual pet information;

a processor system, the processor system programmed or configured to provide;

data communication logic, the data communicating logic configured for receiving virtual pet information via the data network, the received virtual pet information associated with control of a virtual pet by a first user-operated game device, wherein the data communication logic receives virtual pet information indicating a simulation of the virtual pet traveling;

first processing logic for processing the virtual pet information, the first processing logic including first geographic trait processing logic for processing first geographic trait information associated with the pet, the first geographic trait information relating to the first geographic region associated with use of the first user-operated game device, the first geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the first geographic region, the first processing logic further comprises first database logic, the first database logic storing in the data storage subsystem an indication of the first geographic region, pet attribute information, and the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information identifying the virtual pet and indicating physical attributes of the virtual pet, the physical attributes including an appearance of the virtual pet, the first database logic further forming an association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region, and storing an indication of the association among the first geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the first geographic region in the data storage subsystem, wherein the first processing logic, in response to the data communication logic receiving virtual pet information indicating a simulation of the virtual pet traveling, de-associates the virtual pet information from control of the virtual pet via the first user-operated game device and de-associates the first geographic region from the pet attribute information; and

second processing logic for processing the virtual pet information, the second processing logic including second geographic trait processing logic for processing second geographic trait information associated with the pet, the second geographic trait information relating to a second geographic region associated with use of the second user-operated game device, the second geographic trait information including information indicating a trait of the pet associated with residing in the second geographic region, the second processing logic further comprises second database logic, the second database logic, following the first processing logic processing the virtual pet information, storing in the data storage subsystem an indication of the second geographic region and the second geographic trait information, the first database logic further forming an association among the second geographic trait information, the pet attribute information, and the second geographic region, and storing an indication of the association among the second geographic trait information and the pet attribute information in the data storage subsystem, wherein the second processing logic, in response to the data communication logic receiving the virtual pet information indicating a simulation of the virtual pet traveling, associates the virtual pet information with control of the virtual pet via the second user-operated game device and associates the second geographic region with the pet attribute information;

wherein the data communication logic is configured for transmitting the second-processed virtual pet information via the data network.

15. The system claimed in claim 14, further comprising journal logic, the journal logic storing journal information in the data storage subsystem, the journal information describing an aspect of a simulated experience of the virtual pet in a geographic region.

16. The system claimed in claim 15, wherein:

the data communication logic receives a journal request from a requesting user-operated game device;

the journal logic retrieves from the data storage subsystem stored journal information; and

the data communication logic transmits retrieved journal information to the requesting user-operated game device.

17. The system claimed in claim 14, further comprising map logic, the map logic storing map information in the data storage subsystem, the map including indications of geographic regions associated with pet attribute information stored in the data storage subsystem.

18. The system claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the data communication logic receives a map request from a requesting user-operated game device;

the map logic retrieves from the data storage subsystem stored map information; and

the data communication logic transmits retrieved map information to the requesting user-operated game device.